Question 1

Ecosystemic structural family therapy (ESFT), an empirically supported adaptation of structural family therapy was developed to treat which population?

Accepted Answer

Ecosystemic structural family therapy (ESFT) was developed to treat children and adolescents with severe emotional or behavioral problems and their families within the context of their communities. ESFT focuses on understanding and addressing the multiple systems affecting the family, such as school, community, and cultural factors, in addition to the family's internal dynamics.

Question 2

Lesbian families are generally found to have highly egalitarian parenting practices.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that lesbian families tend to have more egalitarian parenting practices compared to heterosexual families. This is due to the absence of traditional gender roles and the shared responsibilities that come with same-sex parenting. Lesbian mothers also tend to communicate more openly and supportively with their children, which fosters a positive family environment.

Question 3

Describe the typical goals used for families in structural family therapy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the typical goals used for families...

Question 4

How do symptoms relate to the family system according to structural family therapy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do symptoms relate to the family...

Question 5

Which of the following statements about using structural family therapy with diverse populations is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Structural family therapy has been found to be effective in working with diverse populations, including families from different cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, it is important for the therapist to be culturally sensitive and to understand the unique dynamics and values of each family they work with. In some cultures, there may be a preference for a more active and engaged approach from the therapist, which fits well with the expert stance often taken in structural family therapy. Therefore, option B is the only statement that is true.

Question 6

Occasionally, when a structural therapist is having extreme difficulty realigning a hierarchy in a family or a particular family member is being scapegoated, the therapist might use which of the following interventions?

Accepted Answer

Unbalancing is an intervention used when a structural therapist is having difficulty realigning a hierarchy or when a particular family member is being scapegoated. It involves temporarily disrupting the established power dynamic in the family in hopes of restructuring it in a healthier way. The therapist might align with the scapegoated member and challenge the dominant family members to create a shift in the family hierarchy. This technique requires skill and caution, as it can also lead to further disruption and resistance from the family. Boundary making involves helping family members to establish clear rules and expectations, challenging the family's worldview involves examining beliefs and assumptions, and reframing involves shifting the way a situation is perceived by a family member. While these interventions may also be useful in certain situations, they do not specifically address the issue of realigning a hierarchy or dealing with scapegoating.

Question 7

List and describe the three types of boundaries defined in structural family therapy. Describe cultural considerations related to the assessment of "healthy" family boundaries.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and describe the three types of...

Question 8

Making compliments and shaping competence are used by a structural therapist in order to ______________________________________________________.

Accepted Answer

Making compliments and shaping competence are used by a structural therapist to augment and reinforce the family's natural positive interaction patterns and strengths. This helps them overcome their problems and move towards healthier functioning.

Question 9

How does a therapist join with a family according to structural family therapy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does a therapist join with a...

Question 10

Discuss the strengths and challenges of utilizing enactments in therapy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the strengths and challenges of utilizing...

Question 11

Alexis, a structural family therapist, had been working with a volatile couple in family therapy for a few months. During one session, she verbally questioned the assumption of the couple: "that it is better for the children if we stayed married," to determine if that belief was having the effect the couple thought it should. What intervention was Alexis using?

Accepted Answer

Alexis is using the intervention of challenging the family's worldview, by verbally questioning their assumption that staying married is better for the children. This intervention aims to help the family question their assumptions and beliefs that may not be serving them well, and to encourage them to explore different perspectives and options.

Question 12

When a structural therapist asks a family member to changes seats, has a separate session with individuals or subsystems, or asks one member of the family to remain silent during an interaction, the therapist might be doing what kind of intervention?

Accepted Answer

Boundary making involves altering the seating arrangement or interactions to clarify and strengthen boundaries within the family system.

Question 13

Intensity is an intervention best described by which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

Intensity involves the therapist increasing the emotional pressure through tone, pacing, and word choice to break through barriers in therapy.

Question 14

Based on the previous vignette, Harold, the structural family therapist working with Mikayla and Jenna takes into account that all behavior has reciprocal antecedents and describes their pattern of interaction like this: M affects J's response, which then affects M's response, ad infinitum. Harold is doing what?

Accepted Answer

Harold is reframing the couple's interaction by describing how each person contributes to the problem dynamic, which removes blame from one person and helps the couple understand their complementary relationship.

Question 15

In brief strategic family therapy, a model that draws on structural and strategic therapies to address drug abuse problems with African American and Hispanic populations, all of the following are principals of intervention EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Paradox is not a principal of intervention in brief strategic family therapy; instead, it focuses on joining, enactments, and reframing.

Quiz 7: Structural Family Therapy

Ecosystemic structural family therapy (ESFT) , an empirically supported adaptation of structural family therapy was developed to treat which population?